My daugher was born at 24 weeks, i don't really know what to exspect HELP!!

Pink - posted on 03/27/2013

thanks ...yea what i'm experience some like this now, my boy was born 24 weeks and 5 day , he have alot of problem , he still in NICU , i'm so scary about him that he going to lost him :(....

Cindy - posted on 09/07/2012

My baby girl was born at 26 weeks. She is now 31 weeks old. She is extremely active, she arches her back and tries to lift her head. Her two siblings (also 31 weeks old) are much calmer. They sleep, and like to be swaddled. They are all in the NICU. Should I be concerned that she is so restless? I have asked the doctor about this and I really did not get a clear answer. Out of the three, she is the smallest weighing close to 2lbs. She has had some health issues and is slowly recovering. I wonder if she is just active, if she is uncomfortable or is this could be a symptom of some type neurological issue. Anyone else have experience with this?

Caroline - posted on 07/04/2012

My daughter was born 9 weeks premmie, weighed 3 pounds & 11 ounces, she was in hospital 4 weeks and needed respiration to start with, she had many challenges. She was not able to walk un-assisted, she needed support to sit up, drooled constantly, developmentally delayed, frequent body tremors, some seizure like episodes, kind of in a daze all the time, clenched left hand, choking on her food, speach problems, left side weakness etc. She was elevated on her toes when holding her to walk, she was splinted for a leg brace & they wanted to give her botox, but after researching botox and discovering how it’s made and there were no long term studies I decided against it. Her life was restricted & so was mine ...and it looked this way for the rest of her life ... & mine. I felt hopeless.

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Chele - posted on 07/29/2009

I have two 26wk'ers and they were completely different. My 1st was a girl and she had lung issues of course but also became deaf because of the meds that she had to be on watch/listen for meds that are ototoxic?? I didn't find out this was the problem until she was 3yrs!!!! All the therapist kept saying "oh she'll catch up she's just behind in her speech" OMG it would have been so much better for her if I would have known to get her hearing checked at 3m, 6m, 9m 12m etc.......she passed her newborn screening but that was done the day she was born not when she left the hospital 5m later......but no one really knows at what time she went deaf it was a gradual decline. She is 7yrs old and the rules have now changed at our hospital, they encourage regular hearing screening for all preemies. She has a Cochlear Implant now and she can hear and speak-very well but in school you can tell she is behind in her conversation skills and the kids seem like they are 1-2yrs older even though she is usually the oldest in her class because we did K-5 twice. Another major problem that both had was when they added Human Milk Fortifier to there breast milk. They were both fine for 30 days until they did this. The 1st one went downhill so fast that by the time she was 2m she was terminal and on some ventilator that they pulled out of the closet because all the new, modern ones weren't working for her and the 2nd baby got NEC and lost 54cm of bowel because it died. One was in the hospital 5m and only went back once for pnemonia when she was 2yrs. The 2nd one was in the hospital for 4m but went back within 6 days and was in the hospital 80% of the time until he was 16m old!!! As everyone has said all babies are different just like I had two that were completely different. Some will have no issues except some developmental delays and others will have severe CP/brain bleeds/complete blindness/mental retardation. Whatever the outcome she will be perfect to you!!!! I also did a medical blog for my last one and it was wonderful to be able to vent to myself and have everyone understand what I was going through and they knew when to ask how things were going and when to just e-mail me and tell me they were thinking of us and praying for us. They could be sad with me and then they could share in my happiness when we hit big milestones like getting out of the box into a big bed, making 5lbs, taking 60cc at one feeding, getting off the vent or finally being on room air with a canula!!!!! The list goes on and on. She is absolutely beautiful and everything will get better but just not as fast as you would like!!!

Melanie - posted on 07/20/2009

Hi there! My daughter was born at 24 weeks too and now she's almost 6 years old and doing sooo great!! The only thing is that she's very small. She only weights 28 pounds and has the length of a 3 years old. But she's an healthy young girl with a lot of character!!

Debra - posted on 07/20/2009

My daughter was born in 1990 1 LB 7 OZ's AUG 20,1990 and came home from the hospital Dec 23, 1990 5 LB's 3oz"s at almost 4 months old she starts college in AUG and has a learning disabilitie in math. But she can do every thing else just like other kids her age. So look how far medicine has come since then! It is a roller coaster ride that you and your daughter will go threw but you will make threw together. God Bless

Jessica - posted on 07/17/2009

My boy was born at 31 weeks and the doctor's said that preemies usually go home around their due date. Hang in there.

Josephine - posted on 07/17/2009

Hi my daughter was born at 24 weeks 2 days. She was 1lb and 6 oz. She came home after 10 weeks in the NICU. But we were not out of the woods yet. The first year of her life was a little rough but now she is four and in perfect health. So be encouraged although it may be rough to start out they will be so strong for the rest of their lives!

Brittany - posted on 07/11/2009

mine were born at 24 wks also its very hard to see your lil one like that but babies are so strong!!! they told me to expect mine to be in for as long as ther g.a. was up to 40 weeks.. my one son came home feb 28th 2 days short of the 4 month mark and his twin came home march 5th... if u have ?s feel free to ask i wen through alot and they had heart surg at 10 days old... and were on the oscilator, ventilator, c-pap and the canula i see ur lil one is gettin big and i wish all the luck too u :)

Sheena - posted on 07/03/2009

hi my son was also born at 24weeks. at 3 1/2 months we had to have him trached. It was the best thing we could have done for all of us. He spent 7 months in hospital before coming home for first time.

Melissa - posted on 06/30/2009

my son was born at 32 weeks, and he was on si.pap for a few days it was soo scary he is now 7 weeks old and doing great, he was home with-in 3 weeks

Dorothea - posted on 06/26/2009

My daughter, too, was born at 24 weeks! It was the scariest moment in my entire life!!!! I had a placental abruption and I almost bled to death. My daughter was not breathing when she was born and had to be revived!, She weighed 2lbs 4.5 oz. She had an underdeveloped nervous systme and had no breathing reflex, she had bleeding in her brain and in her lungs, and had to be resucitated several times during her stay in NICU. I didn't get to see her until she was 4 days old, because I was in an entirely different hospital, she was in a hospital 56 miles from me! I couldn't hold her until she was 8 weeks old. I wanted to breast feed, so I pumped and sent the milk to her by way of family members. Unfortunately, I got post-partum so badly, my milk supply completely dried up in 6 weeks! I missed out on the bonding with my baby, and I felt like she preferred the nurses over myself! Needless to say, she was in NICU for 2 1/2 months and when she came home, it was really weird. (I hadn't been pregnant for almost 3 months!)

I know my story does not sound very encouraging however, my point is that my daughter is now 6 years old. She is accelerated in learning and thankfully has no health problems, or any other problems. She loves me dearly, and I love her dearly.

My advice to you is remember: Whatever reason your baby was born early, it isn't your fault. Don't let others (nurses, strangers, pediatricians) belittle you for your small baby. In the end, you are the Mommy, you will know what is best for your baby, and your baby will want you more than anyone! Just keep your hopes up, pray, and love your little one no matter what! Everything will turn out for the best!

Eliabeth - posted on 06/17/2009

Hi Holly, congratulations on your beautiful daughter! My son Adam was born at 25wks and weighed 1lb 14oz, he came home when he was 22wks old.

Generally premies go home around their due date, a little earlier if they do well.

Adam was in so long as he suffered a lot of complications and was vented initially till he was 5wks old, then alternated between the vent and c-pap till he was 16wks old, before finally coming home on oxygen.

He is now 8yrs old, and still oxygen dependent, due to all the complications he suffered, he also has severe Quadraplegic Cerebal Palsy, Hydrocephlaus, controlled by a VP Shunt, and mutiple other problems.

Life in NICU is very much a 'one step forward, 2 steps back' until you start having more steps forward and less back!

Heather - posted on 06/15/2009

My son was born also on 12/15/08 at 30 weeks..Hes going good now. but we had a very rough start

Leanne - posted on 06/14/2009

hope your little girl is ok i know how it feels my little boy Phoenix was born at 25 weeks by emergancy c-section and i was really scared, but i guess you just have to expect anything, there is no right way to deal with this.



The best advice i can give you is to make friends with other mums with prem babies, as doing this made it alot easier to cope

Heather - posted on 06/12/2009

Quoting Jeanette:

my baby was at 30 weeks  she came home after 6 weeks there are 3 goals they have to meet breath on their own, can keep their body temperature well outside the incubator, and be able to drink from a bottle before coming home

EXACTLY!!SO ITS UP TO THEM

Heather - posted on 06/12/2009

Wow! My son was born 12/15/08 (30 wseeks) actually my water broke at 28 weeks..He came home at 6 weeks...Good luck!!!

Hannah - posted on 06/04/2009

Hi Holly,







It is a hard time for you and the docters are always so reluctant to give you any guide of the time scale, the thing is all babys are different and even when you think your baby seems to be doing the same things at the same speed as anothes, i don't think there is a guide as to how long it will take your baby, my boy was born at 25 weeks and was in hospital for 6 months, he was ventorlated for 6 weeks, had a hernia op, had to have lasor treatment in both eyes and towards the last couple of months, there was a high chance he would come home on oxygen, but he just about managed to get off the 0.01 % he was hanging on to for so long, I knew of many babys born at 26weeks and one 24weks at in the same hospital who seemed to be home around their due date, and i spent alot of time wondering why my boy wasn't home yet, but i think its just best to try to enjoy the time you are having with your baby even while at the hospital, one thing that helped me was to have time in another room when posible and to suround my baby with his own things, such as blankets and toys and even music. i wish you and your baby well.

Leanne - posted on 06/03/2009

My little one was born at 25 weeks and came home just before his actual due date this is usually normal but 9 out of 10 will leave hospital well after their due date.

It is best just to take each day as it comes and hope for the best that is what we did and our little one came home on oxygen but again this does not happen to all babies that are born this early.

Bec - posted on 05/31/2009

Quoting Holly:

My daugher was born at 24 weeks, i don't really know what to exspect HELP!!

Hey everyone my daughter was born at 24 week (12/25/08) and is still in the hospital i just wanted to know if anyone could help me by letting me know when there little one(s) came home.

Hi Holly

My firstborn son was born at 25 weeks so i can recognise ur very question. I asked myself so many times that very question....experience would say - it depends on any of the complications ur daughter has and how resiliant and responsive to treatment she is.

My son spent 3 1/2 months in nicu on the long tube for breathing - he had severe bpd and had various other complications. He eventually came home at 6 mths and was on home oxygen till he was 1 yr old. I was told he would have severe asthma and so many other complications but he surprised everyone!!

He is now 10 yrs old and i still refer to him as my little miracle! The only thing he was left with was a quiet voice due to scarring from his breathing tube.

He was a little undersized for years but has now caught up. He was also behind in his fine and gross motor skills but again...this all catches up.

You have a quite a journey ahead of you - i pray for strength for you and also to cherish every moment.  I felt robbed for a long time that i didnt have a normal birth like everyone i knew around me......but i came to the resolve that i was very blessed cause i got to see my baby growing through my "pregnancy" (his humidicrib) where everyone else had to wait. I kept a diray and kept video and photos - remember it all - it will be such a journey to share with those you love and your daughter will be empowered by her own story - believe me!!! Good luck ♥♥

Jennifer - posted on 05/20/2009

THis might be a really late reply but when my son was in the NICU 6 weeks early, they couldnt say when he would be going home because he was the boss! It all depended on how well he took things and how long he could go on room air and how well he did feedings and such. I guess if your little one is home, this can be for if anyones babies are still in the nicu. The doctor that he had said " I gave him what he needed, now its his turn to show us what hes got, hes my boss now!"

Carol-anne - posted on 05/13/2009

i have twins who were born at 25 weeks. they were 1 pound 8 and 1 pound 11. one of them was fine and was allowed home as soon as she gained weight and got of her oxygen, the other contracted necrotising-entra colitis (bowel problem) and was in hospital till she was 6 month old. she has had 7 ops to date and is awaiting a bowel transplant, but to be honest for them being that early they have done brill. they are 5 this year, it just makes them that bit specialer. i hope every thing goes fine with her

Michelle - posted on 05/01/2009

My son was born at 33 weeks and was 5lbs. 3 oz. He was big for a premie, he would've been almost 11 lbs. if I'd gone full term(thank goodness he was early, lol). We were so super blessed that he only spent 8 days in the NICU, never being on a respirator. He was really jaundiced and was under the bili lights/blankie. I think all the skin to skin was the best thing that helped. That, and writing everything down. It was a good way for me to emotionally letdown. He just turned a year on April 8th, and crawled on time, is walking, and hasn't been delayed on any of his milestones. They just do things in thier own time, like all kids. :) We will keep you in our prayers.

Wendy - posted on 04/27/2009

My youngest girl Nikita was born at 24 weeks. She spent 2 1/2 months in the NICU. When she came home, she was on a heart monitor which came off after about 2 months. Besides playing catch up on her milestones... she is perfect.

She did have laser eye surgery which is common. She weighed 5 lbs when she was brought home. I hardly slept or let her outta my sight. Frightened for her. But to this day, she has caught up on everything. She is 5 today and doing well.

Patricia - posted on 04/25/2009

My son was born at 31 weeks weighing 3 lbs 3 oz. He came home after 31/2 weeks about 5 weeks before his due date. He would have come home a little sooner but he had an apnea episode and so they kept him a couple of days extra. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 2 yrs. old which affects mostly his lower limbs (he walks with canes and uses a wheelchair for long distances) but is at grade level academically. He is 13 years old now and just had his 3rd surgery this past wednesday. I am pregnant again at 31weeks and am hospitalized on bed rest due to my bag rupturing last week. So I have been preparing myself to have another preemie though things look good and I could potentially make it to 34 weeks. My advice in short is to enjoy and take advantage of every moment with your preemie and love her with all you heart and soul.

Be prepared for ups and downs and know that this is completely normal. My son is truly a gift to me and I tell him all of the time how lucky I am to have been blessed with such a special child. His spirit is just so strong and people are amazed at his great attitude when all they see is a child with a disability. God gave you this challenge because you can handle it and the rewards outweight without a doubt the struggles that potentially may lie ahead!

Melissa - posted on 04/22/2009

My daughter was born at 24 weeks. She was in the hospital for 175 days. She has several different issues. She is getting ready to turn two and is still on oxygen 24-7 and has a g-tube to feed her by. By looking at her now you wouldn't be able to tell that she was a preemie at all. Like someone else said, take care of yourself to be able to take care of your baby. Get in with her and help as much as they let you. Kangaroo care as much as they let you. It really helps. Wish you the best on your rollarcoaster ride!

Emma - posted on 04/21/2009

hi x my twins were born at 28 weeks weighing 2lb13oz and 2lb 15oz and came home after 7 weeks weighing 4lb 10oz each x they told me they had to be at least 2kg and 35 weeks,taking milk well and maintaining temp x good luck-the wait is well worth it and well done x

Francesca - posted on 04/20/2009

Hi, My daughter was born at 26 wks but was the size of a 23 wker. She weighed just 14 oz and was 10 inches long. she was only on the vent for 8 days but she stayed in the hospital for 108 days. She had a grade 2 brain hemorage but it resolved on its on. she is now a fairly healthy 7 year old. She plays baseball and is in the appropriate grade for her age. Just remember that God is watching over your little one. You will find that having a premie is a huge challenge but God will use you child to bless you and many others. Hang in there and know that you are not alone. God Bless.

Stacey - posted on 04/20/2009

hiya, Your daughter will be fine, just b stronge for her n keep give her the comfort n smiles she needs. My son was 9weeks early, he was in hospital for 5weeks and came home, ino ur daughter was alot earlier but shes in the best place at the moment, and just being there for her everyday will make her better. She'l com home when shes ready, just gotta go by her paste. shes gorjus, good luck to you both x

Latasha - posted on 04/19/2009

My son was born at 32 week (08/22/02) stay in the hospital for 3days. He weight 4lb and 9 0z. Few more lb he would be a preem he wouldnt eat when he was born he didnt no how to suck the bottle. And he had the skin infection so he was under this big light all the time. I was scared for my son but within 3 days he got better and was able to go home.

Stacey - posted on 04/17/2009

Hi, my son was born at 28 weeks weighing 1lbs 10 oz and was on a ventilator for 18 hours and no complications other than holding his own body temp. He came home after 8 weeks of living in an incubator. He did have 1 major surgery when he was 2, they removed an egg sized,full of fluid mass from his lungs. He will turn 9 next week and is doing great!

Amanda - posted on 04/14/2009

My son was born at 25 weeks, He was in the NICU for 87 days. I've had to preemies at two different hospitals and both staff of the NICU that babies stay pretty close up until their due dates. Best of luck to you and my thoughts and prays are with you. I hope your little one has no major comlications and will grow to be healthy and srong!!

Amanda - posted on 04/14/2009

My son was born at 25 weeks, He was in the NICU for 87 days. I've had to preemies at two different hospitals and both staff of the NICU that babies stay pretty close up until their due dates. Best of luck to you and my thoughts and prays are with you. I hope your little one has no major comlications and will grow to be healthy and srong!!

Yvonne - posted on 04/13/2009

My daughter was born 24 weeks  she is now a healthy 13 year old was born in October and came home christmas eve was the best christmas pressie ever. Good luck to you both enjoy every single day.xxx

Katie - posted on 04/12/2009

My little girl was born at 29 weeks weighing 2 Ibs and 7 oz and she did great!  She was on the venitlator for a about a week and then she was breathing on her own.  She was in the hospital for 2 1/2 months.  When she came home she was not even 5 Ibs she was still sooo tiny.  She had to have an apnea monitor but other than that she was fine.  Now she is 14 months old and not a thing wrong with her other than she's spoiled ROTTEN!!  She is up to date with everything and is not behind on anything like the Dr's thought she would be.  SO just hang in there and pray and everything will turn out ok.  Hope this helps you!

Paula - posted on 04/12/2009

my little was born at 28 weeks and he come home to local hospital after 3mths and was at local hospital for 1wk.He just turn 4 on march.31

Kathy - posted on 04/11/2009

My son was born 9 weeks early. He was in hospital for 6 weeks. Every little on is different. he had only on spell. A word of advise not sure were you live? i live in Canada and my little guy had a lot of appointments for the first year which really helped us threw what to except. Talk,listen and ask questions helps a lot. I love this picture of your daughter it's so cute. My son is now 3 1/2 and to look at him you wouldn't even thing he came in to this world early. good luck

Guini - posted on 04/11/2009

Our twins were not allowed to come home until they were atleast 5 lbs and were not having any episodes of apnea for atleast 48 hours. Good luck!

Vickie - posted on 04/11/2009

my girls were born at 25 weeks and one came home at 90 days only weighing 4lbs 11 oz and the other at 100 days weighing 4 lbs 1 oz. They will not let you baby come home until she can maintain her own body temperature and can drink out of a bottle without too much help... The longer she is in the hospital the healthier she will be when she finally does come home... It is a long journey but it is all worth it in the end.

God Bless
Vickie

Sarah-Jane - posted on 04/05/2009

hey,

my litle girl was 25+6 born, and got to go home after 19 weeks. she's now been home for nearly 3 weeks and is putting on about 40g a day. all the docs will probaby be telling you that its all a piece of string, ( don't know how long) and that they come home when they are strong enough. whilst in the hospital, we had babies going home that were born at 26 weeks when they were 38 weeks, had babies going home at 44 weeks, and even a couple of luckys at 34 weeks. It really is up to the baby, and how long they've been ventilated etc for.

Just hang in there, its all worth it when there home

Earnesta - posted on 04/04/2009

He also came home on oxygen for about 2 months.

Earnesta - posted on 04/04/2009

Hi, my eldest son was born at 24 weeks weighing 1lb and 8 oz he is now 14years old today (yay!) and a healthy teenager. He was born on April 4th and came home in July, 2 weeks before his actually due date. The best things that you can do if you are able to, is to send breastmilk for her feedings and plenty skin contact for her comfort if they are letting you hold her and prayer always helps. By the way my preemie now weighs 116 lbs lol

Suzanne - posted on 04/03/2009

How are you doing?  Your daughter is adorable!  My son was born at 30 weeks and was in the hospital for 2 months.  He had a lot of problems with apnea that kept him there.  He'll be two this month and is doing great.  We just had our 2 year old check -up and he seems to be all caught up.  The road is tough the first year, but definitely so very special.  I would definitley recommend as much kangaroo care as possible.  It creates such a special bond between you and your child.  I would also recommend the Premature Baby book by Dr. Sears.  One thing I wish I did while he was in the hospital was to journal.  It would have helped me cope with my emotions in a different way and would have been a nice thing to have now.  Good luck to you both!

Sheila - posted on 04/03/2009

Hi! My son was born 28 weeks @ 2lbs 7oz and stayed in the NICU for 3 months. 6 weeks in the ventilator, then c-pap until 2 months and then plain nasal canula and then stayed in the bassinet for less than a months before going home. he came home with no more oxygen and monitor at all. Neither medications except for some multivitamins and special milk for premies. Though at home hes occasionally experiencing apnea but now Hes ok except on his global developmental delays. hes now 20months old but cant sit, stand without support and can walk only with the help of his walker. hes currently undergoing therapies. Good luck to you and your cute daughter.

Lakisha - posted on 04/02/2009

as a matter of fact the picture of me in the white jumpsuiit, i t was mothers day 08 and i was 5 monthes you could barely tell im pregnant. i went into labor 2 weeks later! he just couldn't wait.

Lakisha - posted on 04/02/2009

hello i am a mother of a 24weeker, and from the looks of it , i can see that your baby is on c-pap nasal canula. its a good thing she is not intubated with a resperator. at this point shes doing better, it depends on the amount of oxygen she is on and how well shes doin before she goes home, it will be around the time you was suppose to oringally have her! She may or may not have to come home on oxygen but i don't know the severitys of her health, if i did i would be able to better assist you with any questions or concerns you may have! take a deep breath i know its been a long ride, hang in there its going to be just fine, i been through it all, my son was born may24,2008 and his due date was september10,2008. so i know how it feels to be a nic u mom.

Jeanette - posted on 04/01/2009

my baby was at 30 weeks  she came home after 6 weeks there are 3 goals they have to meet breath on their own, can keep their body temperature well outside the incubator, and be able to drink from a bottle before coming home

Sarah - posted on 04/01/2009

Hya iv had 2 prem babies, my eldest was born at 36wks weighed 4lb8 n he was in scbu 4 2 n half weeks n now a cheeky 3 yr old, i had my youngest on the 28 july 08 he was born at 29wks but measurin 25wks, he weighed 1lb12 but sadly didnt make it he pasted away at 19 days old. All i can say is take everyday as it comes n think possitive.

Jade - posted on 03/25/2009

hiya, my son was born at 24weeks +2 weighing 1lbs 8oz, he is now home on oxygen after spending 4 months and 2 days in hospital. the day ur baby comes home will be the greatest day of your life! good luck!! x

Juli - posted on 03/23/2009

My daughter was born at 27 wks & 630 grams. She was on a vent for 46 days and in the hospital for 3 1/2 months. She's 17 now...a normal teenager, junior in high school. Potty trained late, walked late, did almost everything late but talk...and she never quit talking! LOL The point is that that all the milestones were reached but in HER timing. You have to remind yourself that your baby will do things in her own time...don't be too anxious for the next stage (including taking her home) because someday you'll look back and long for the days you didn't just simply treasure the moments. Laugh when she fingerpaints with poop and don't sweat it if she's still in diapers at age 4. It'll all work itself out! Mine will graduate from high school next year and I promise you, the years have flown by! One bonus was that she stayed small for so long that I could carry my "baby" till she was 5 and even now, she still comes and sits on my lap. I love it!